Highlights of the Deacons & Session Joint Meeting

The deacons and session of Batesville Presbyterian Church held their annual joint meeting in the Recreation Room on Monday, April 9, 2007.

The meeting started with a report from Al Welshans, Moderator of the Deacons. He said the congregation seems to be thriving with larger attendance at the recent Kirkin' service and at the fellowship events such as the church picnics. The numbers and the spirit of the congregation seem high. Our church is growing and should continue to grow along with Batesville as new industry moves in and people continue to move into our area which is the most desirable place to live in the state of Mississippi.

The church officers then heard an update from the Long Range Planning Committee composed of Moderator Kenny Hopper, William Cole and Billie Lois Marshall. They have had several meetings with an architect from Vicksburg who comes highly recommended from other congregations. Their plans include some major remodeling of the current facilities in phase one; then some new construction on our newly purchased lot where the Cox house once stood in phase two. This work will require a capital campaign that will require significant giving from the congregation. The task force will reveal more of the plan and solicit input from the congregation as the project moves forward. It has been delayed recently due to reconstruction in Ocean Springs after Hurricane Katrina which has employed much of the time and interest of our architect over the past year. The feeling of the deacons and session is that the Long Range Planning Committee should move forward with these projects now and they plan to do so.

These are exciting days in the life of our church and the deacons and session appreciate the support of the congregation as we move forward. We are united in Christ's mission in this place at this time.